A town on the left bank of the Loire, between Tours and Blois, the Amboise site has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Established at the foot of a natural promontory, the market town developed through the presence of the river.

A royal town from 1434, Amboise developed throughout construction of the château, which was in the hands of the crown. Italian artists arrived, creating their first works in the Loire Valley. However, its growth was not as significant as that of Tours. The king's financiers and officers improved their home towns and their own châteaux, but Amboise was not the birthplace of the upper class. In the 15th and 16th centuries economic growth meant the fortifications could be reinforced and new horizons loomed. Developments also included the widening of streets, and the refurbishment and construction of public, private and church buildings.

Many half-timbered houses (Rue Victor Hugo, Rue de la Concorde and Rue Entrepont) show a resemblance to the late Gothic tradition. Hôtels particuliers (detached private houses) are distinguishable by their height, the use of fine and durable materials, and a visible resemblance to the local château. With a gable or side wall giving onto the street, they feature sculptured cornices, pilaster-framed windows, and their façades have a certain order to them. This is the case for the Hôtel Morin (now the town hall), and the Hôtel Joyeuse. Some researchers attribute the latter to the Italian architect Fra Giocondo and its garden to Pacello da Mercogliano. The churches St. Denis's and Notre-Dame-en-Grève, now known as St. Florentin's, were also refurbished. In the surrounding countryside, manors were already being built in the "Italian style", including Clos Lucé in brick and Château Gaillard in limestone.

In the 1530s, when Francis I moved to Ile-de-France with his court, the town still received royal visits, but the grand era was over.